University of Utah CFO Tony Wagner recently announced two appointments to leadership positions, one of whom will lead Financial Services. Steven Phillips was named Associate Vice President for Financial Services and will continue his role as the university’s Controller. Lynn Dixon will join the Office of the Chief Financial Officer as Senior Director of Budget and Financial Planning.  

Phillips brings more than two decades of experience in financial leadership within higher education and the public sector. During his time with the university, he has played a crucial part in advancing financial reporting standards, internal controls and institutional compliance.  

According to Wagner, Phillips “will provide strategic oversight of the university’s core financial and business service functions.” He will oversee groups that include Accounts Payable, Purchasing, Income Accounting and the Bursar’s Office, Financial Systems, Financial Training and the Controller’s Office. He will also play a central role in modernizing financial processes, enhancing automation and analytics and advancing institutional compliance and fiscal stewardship. 

Dixon will be transitioning into her new role from the College of Nursing. She has over a decade of financial and administrative experience at the university and has led initiatives to improve budget transparency, strengthen resource alignment and modernize planning processes.  

Responsibilities in this new position will include overseeing operating and capital budget systems for the institution, including state-level financial reporting, legislative appropriations management and institutional budget allocations. “Lynn will lead multi-year financial planning and analysis, providing strategic leadership in resource alignment, forecasting and financial decision-making support for academic and administrative units,” said Wagner.  

Phillips began his new role on October 1, 2025 and Dixon will begin her position effective November 1, 2025. Both will report to Deputy CFO Jason Atuaia.   

 

For more about Financial Services, Visit Our Newsroom